ETHIOPIA: And Then There Were Sixty

The announcements crackling over Radio
Ethiopia last week were terse and chilling. A mid-morning Shootout
had taken place at the columned palace, once the residence of Emperor
Haile Selassie and since 1974 occupied by the Dergue, the committee of
army officers that overthrew the legendary lion. The shooting was
shortly followed by an announcement of the execution of Brigadier
General Teferi Benti, 55, Ethiopia's chief of state, and eight of his
supporters in the Dergue. Significantly, the broadcasts took pains to
mention that the two most powerful members of the Dergue, Lieut.
Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam and Lieut. Colonel...